Xbox: Digital Only Xbox One S Rumored to Release in 2019

Tech web site Thurrott (a beforehand dependable supply for Microsoft-related rumors) is reporting that Microsoft has engaged on an Xbox codenamed “Maverick” that’s certainly a model of the Xbox One S that solely performs digital video games.

While not all the small print appear to be concrete right now, it does seem that Microsoft intends to launch two new variations of the Xbox One S earlier than the top of the 12 months with the aim being that each of them might be cheaper than the present fashions. While not a lot is thought concerning the different rumored mannequin of the Xbox One S, the disc drive free model of the Xbox One S is rumored to retail for below $200.

Windows Central experiences that this disc-free model of the Xbox One S might be known as the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. Furthermore, they consider that the console might be launched someday in May this 12 months and ought to be made out there in all areas at roughly the identical time. They additionally count on pre-orders for the system to be out there beginning in April.

That’s fascinating in and of itself, however what’s actually bought all people speaking is what this rumored launch may imply for the following era of Xbox {hardware}. It’s been rumored for a while that Microsoft intends for at the very least one model of the following Xbox to be a digital-only console. The concept that they may check these waters forward of the discharge and reveal of the following era of Xbox {hardware} actually lends somewhat weight to that idea.

Honestly, this all makes plenty of sense. We know this era of Xbox {hardware} is coming to and finish, and that usually signifies that corporations launch a less expensive, modified model of their present {hardware} in an effort to appeal to actually late adopters. With Microsoft making an attempt to agressively push Game Pass and their upcoming cloud gaming service, it appears pure that they’d need to get prospects used to the concept of gaming with out discs.

Regardless, it does appear to be Microsoft actually is guiding us in the direction of a future the place Game Pass and different digital companies are the way forward for the Xbox model and never simply {hardware}.

Matthew Byrd is a employees author for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days making an attempt to pitch deep-dive analytical items about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an more and more perturbed collection of editors. You can learn extra of his work right here or discover him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014.